Visible index



0a. 31. 1939. J. H. RAND, JR. m- AL 2.178.457

VIS IBLE INDEX Filed April 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l grwc/wbow R sfi James HRandJz,

Carl m/bzm,

9% J. H. mm), JR, ET AL %,457

vIsmLE 4 INDEX Filed April 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES VISIBLE INDEX Application April 9, 1936, Serial No. 73,418

Claims.

This invention relates to a visible index where the record cards are detachable from the suspension device in either the attached or detached position relative to a suitable support.

The invention comprehends the provision of a card suspension device that is detachable from a suitable support while the record cards are adapted to cooperate with suitable means to normally prevent detachment of the suspension device 10 from the support. The cards enable the detachment of the suspension device from the support by flexing relative to said means and in this way provide for the detachment of the suspension device or card holders from the support. In one form this is accomplished by utilizing a supporting bar for each record card that has endwise movement for engaging and disengaging portions of the bar with the support in attaching and detaching it from the support, with the edges of the cards engaging side flanges on the support to normally prevent this endwise movement in the normal position of the cards on the support.

The invention also includes a carrier and card construction that involves a novel means for obtaining a free swinging movement of each card on l 2 its carrier while the retaining means is readily operable to engage and disengage the card from the carrier. In one form the card is provided with attaching portions slightly wider than the space between the ends of the hooks and the adjacent 3 portion of the carrier to obtain a snap action in attaching and detaching a card from its carrier. In another form the carrier has offset sections with hooks extending transversely of said sections with the ends spaced to provide clearance 3 for free insertion of attaching projections on the cards, the parts being arranged to have the edge of the card engage the carrier beyond the offset sections during swinging movement while the attaching portions ride freely on the hooks and are normally supported above the opening provided for insertion of the attaching portions on the hooks. In this form the cards are attached or detached by flexing the attaching portions to pass the ends of the hooks.

Another feature of the invention resides in forming a supporting bar or member for supporting one or more record cards from strip material that is provided with projections on one edge extending transversely of the strip in curved relation terminating in spaced relation from the opposite edge, these projections being formed on oiiset sections of the strip, while the remaining portions of the strip are provided with side flanges so as to reduce the flexibility of the supporting member'and allow the. use of lighter gauge sheet with a suitable card index tray,panel or other support in a suitable manner.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a card index tray having the central portion of the tray omitted, in order to show the structure at opposite ends, in which card holders and cards constructed in accordance with this invention are shownin assembled relation, fragmentary portions of some of the cards and the top cover being shown in partially elevated and separated positions.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the tray taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a card supporting member partially removed from the tray and showing how the card supporting members are inserted and removed from the tray.

Fig. 4 shows one end portion of a modified form of one of the card supporting members or bars in perspective so as to illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the portion of a bar as'illustrated in Fig. 4 through one of the hooks or curved projections illustrating the construction of the curved projections.

Fig. 6 shows a portion of one card supporting member in'perspective, which is slightly difierent from the one shown in Fig. 4, together with the corresponding portion of a record card for attachment thereto, and illustrating the card in its position as it is about to be attached or as it is just being removed from attachment on the curved projections of the card supporting member.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the record cards on one hanger shown in vertical position, the construction being slightly modified from that shown in the previously described figures.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are substantially enlarged cross sections through one of the hooks on a hanger and a fragment of the attached card illustrating the relation of the card in the hanger in several different positions between the limits of movement of the card on the hanger, the card being constructed so that the edge portion intermediate the attaching part adapted to engage with the hooks on the hanger, is engaged with the hanger to support the card during its swinging movement.

The card index tray is formed of sheet metal having a bottom formed at the side edges with upwardly extending flanges 2 providing outer side walls which are turned inwardly at the upper edges as indicated at 3 and then downwardly at 4 to provide inner side walls terminating in spaced relation from the bottom I as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A front wall 5 is provided on the tray that is formed at the upper end with a rearwardly bent flange 5. A sheet metal insert 1 is provided with a tongue 8 on the upper edge that interlocks with the rearwardly bent flange portion 6, while a spaced parallel downwardly turned flange portion 9 on the insert 1 on each side of tongue 8 forms a label holder in the front of the tray. This type of construction is similar to that well known in the art in connection with the construction of visible card index trays. The insert I is formed with an opening ID as shown in Fig. 1.

At the rear end of the tray a channel shaped member II extends between side walls 2 and forms the rear wall of the tray. The bottom I is offset downwardly as indicated at I2 at the rear end of the tray to receive a back stop I3. The forward edge of back stop I3 engages the shoulder between offset portion I2 and the adjacent bottom I of the tray in such a manner that the upper face of back stop I3 lies flush or in the same plane with the upper surface of bottom I. A laterally extending flange I4 forms the abutting stop of the back stop I3 to limit rearward movement of the card supporting members. A rearwardly extending flange I5 on the upper edge of flange l4 supports a top cover I6 hingedly connected thereto at IT in any suitable manner. The back stop inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge to compensate for the lack of build-up in the cards at the rear end of the tray. In this way cards in the rear end of the tray are supported in the same position as the cards in the center of the tray.

The front end of the tray is provided with a bottom stop I8 formed of sheet metal having an inclined plate portion I9 for supporting the lowermost cards in the tray in the desired position. The forward edge of plate I9 is formed with a depending flange 2U terminating in a rearwardly extending flange 2! adapted to seat on the bottom of the tray when the bottom stop is in place as shown in Fig. 1. A projection 22 formed in flange engages in opening III when the bottom stop is in position in the tray to prevent accidental disengagement of the bottom stop from the tray. The rear edge of plate I 9 is provided with a curved edge portion 23 to engage the card supporting member at the front of the tray.

Channel members 24 are mounted on bottom I of the tray at opposite side edges with the channels facing each other as shown in Fig. 2.. The outer edges of channels 24 are engaged against the inner faces of outer side walls 2 and as shown in Fig. 2 they extend between the lower edges of inner side walls 4 and bottom I. These channel members 24 extend from a point in the front end of the tray just forward of the rear end of bottom stop I8 to the rear end of the tray past stop flange I4, so that card carriers can be housed between bottom stop I8 and stop flange I4.

The card carriers or base members that form a novel part of the invention are designated 25.

.These carriers 25 are formed of sheet metal, or

other suitable material, in the form of long narrow strips provided throughout the central portion with laterally extending flanges on each side indicated at 28. Beyond flanges 26 the strip is provided with offset sections 21.

These offset sections 21 have curved projections or prongs 28 formed on one edge that extend over the section 27 and have the free ends terminating in spaced relation to the opposite edge as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. These curved prongs 28 are curved transversely between the side edges as indicated in the drawings so as to provide a rigid prong structure. The Section through carrier 25, as shown in Fig. 5, is taken through one of these prongs and shows one prong in cross section illustrated in connection with Figs. 4 and 6, for example, this curved formation of the prong transversely being to secure the rigidity of the prong.

Opposite ends of the strip beyond sections 2'! lie in the same plane as the central portion as indicated at 29. Side flanges 30 are formed on the ends 29. The terminal portions 3| of ends 29 are offset slightly from the portions of ends 29 adjacent offset sections 21 in the same direction as offset sections 21, but not to the same extent. The flanges on terminal portions 3| are also offset with the terminal portions as shown at 32.

Carriers 25 have a length sufficient to extend transversely across the card index tray as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that terminal portions 3| may be engaged in channel members 24. The terminal portions 3I engage in channel members 24 in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the carriers will have limited endwise movement.

There is sufficient space in the engaged relation of carriers 25 in channels 24 so that carriers 25 may have endwise movement in the channels, when supported in the tray, sufficient to allow one end to be disengaged from one of the channels 24 by lifting the disengaged end of carrier 25 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 for example, whereupon carrier 25 may then be moved toward the right as shown in Fig. 3 to disengage the other end from the other channel 24 for entirely removing carrier 25 from the tray.

The insertion and removal of carriers 25 from the tray is preferably done with a record card attached thereto, although they may be inserted and removed without attached cards whenever desired.

Record cards for use with this type of carrier 25 are indicated by the numeral 33. Since each carrier 25 as shown is formed with pairs of prongs 28 adjacent opposite ends, it is desirable to use these prongs 28 in pairs for supporting record cards so that each card is attached to a pair of prongs, one at each end of the carrier.

The record cards used in connection with the structure described above may be either plain cards that receive the records or card holders of any well known type now used in the art for supporting record cards. In the use of the term record card or cards it is to be understood that card holders or other equivalent supports for record cards are to be interpreted as coming within the meaning of this term, particularly where used in the claims.

The record cards are preferably formed with pairs of tabs 34 projecting from one margin of the card at a distance apart so fixed that the tabs will have the same spacing as a pair of hooks 28. These tabs are perforated and provided with eyelets 35. The eyelets have an axial dimension slightly greater than the space between the ends of prongs 28 and the adjacent of the operator as illustrated in Fig. 3. Then the edge of oifset section 21 of carriers 25. This provides a means by which the cards can be applied by a snap action to prongs 28, whereby they will be normally retained in connected relation on carriers 25. Prongs 28 will project through eyelets 35 in the attached relation of the cards. on the carriers.

Fig. 6 illustrates how the cards may have the eyeleted tab snapped on prong 28. The end of tab 34 isinserted in the space between prong 28 and offset section 2'! as shown in Fig. 6 until the eyelet is engaged with the prong and section 21. Then, by pushing inwardly on the eyelet, it will force or spring the prong 23 away from offset section 2? so as to increase the width of the space between the prong and the adjacent edge of offset section El and allow the eyelet to slip onto prong 28 so that the prong will enter the opening in the eyelet. The eyelet actually snaps on or off the prong in this operation.

In removing a card from a carrier 25 it is moved to position the eyelet opposite the space riers 25 for free hinging movement to facilitate reference to the records,and for manipulating the card carriers or supporting members '25 in the tray.

The edge of each card adjacent to the portion formed with tabs E i and to one side of the tab as indicated at 35 is recessed in the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings so that two cards may be used on each card carrier 25 providing two pairs of hooks. The cut-out portions 38 enable the free manipulation of each of the cards on the carrier and prongs 28.

A feature of the present invention resides in the use of cards, having a dimension between the side edges, only slightly less than the dimension between the inner walls a of the tray, as shown in Fig. 2. When card carriers 25 are engaged in channels 24 as illustrated in Fig. 2 the side edges of cards 33 mounted on the carriers will engage inner side walls t upon a slight sidewise movement of the cards relative to the tray that will prevent sufficient endwise movement of card carriers 25 to disengage either .end from channels My As a result, the cards on carriers 25 provide an efiicient means for retaining the carriers in engaged relation in the tray.

When it is desired to remove any card carrier from the tray, it is only necessary to flex the 'edge of the card on the carrier to be removed at theleft-hand side of the tray, for example, as shown at 31in Fig. 3. This flexing of the edge of the card curves the card around to one side out of the plane of carrier 25 and thereby permits card carrier 25 and card 33 carried thereby, to be moved to the left a sufficient distance to disengage the right-hand end of carrier 25, as shown in Fig. 3, from the right-hand channel 24. This position of the right-hand end of card carrier 25 is illustrated in dot and dash lines at 38 in Fig. 3. I The card and card carrier may be raised to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the card being gripped with the fingers card and carrier may be moved to the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to disengage the left-hand end of card carrier 25 from its channel 24 and completely detach the card to have a follower or bottom stop, such as boti tom stop It, removed from the tray before card carriers 25 may be removed. A card carrier and its supported card may be inserted into the tray by reversing the operation above described for the removal of a carrier.

The cards 33 may be attached and detached from carriers 25 in either the attached or detached position thereof in the tray, and obviously, a carrier 25 may be removed from the tray where it is not provided with cards in the manner hereinabove described.

The construction of card carriers 25 with offset sections Z'l is of importance in the present invention. It aids in reducing build-up of the cards in the tray and also facilitates the retention of the cards on prongs 28 because when the cards lie flat in the tray in their Visible indexed position, the central portions of the cards lie on top of carriers 2.. This results in holding tab portions 3 adjacent the top of prongs 28.

In the modification shown in Fig. card carrier 25 is shown as provided with a continuous flange 39 extending laterally to, but forming part of, ofiset sectionsfli. This provides a reinforcement to strengthen the entire carrier 25 between its end and permit the use of light weight sheet material.

Fig. 6 illustrates a construction that is slightly different than Fig. l in that the flange 39 is omitted and in this type of construction a stronger metal or one of heavier gauge is preferred to gain the requisite strength.

Where two cards are used on the same card carrier 25 as illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the free margins will be formed to expose a visible marginal portion of each in the tray. One card will have one margin exposed on one side of the tray and the'other card will have its marginal portion exposed on the 0131301 site side beside the margin of the first-mentioned card by What is known as the step-cutting of the card. This idea of having the indexes on two cards visible is well known in the art. It is to be understood that one or any number of cards that are found to be desirable to mount on any one carrier 25 may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention since the flexing feature of the card can be utilized with one or more cards to provide for the insertion or removal of each carrier from the tray by the endwise movement described above. When the carrier is in the tray the cards will lie flat and have the edges engage the inner side walls to prevent detachment of the card carriers in their normal position. By means of the eyeleted tabs on each card being mounted on the curved hooks 28 the cards will. have free hinging movement on each carrier 25, so the cards above any selected card can be moved about their connections to carriers 25 to expose the surface of the record card on the desired carrier for its use in the usual and well known manner.

Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive illustrate a slightly different form of hook construction for the card carriers. The dimensions of the cards, the tabs and the position of the eyelets with respect to one another are slightly changed from the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6. Similar reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts of the tray 5 to those used in Figs. 1 to 3. The card carriers are engaged and disengaged in the tray in the same manner as those previously described. In Figs. 7 to 11 the card carriers are designated generally by numeral 40. Each carrier 40 has a central portion 4| formed with lateral side flanges,

offset sections 42 at opposite ends of central portion 4| and end portions 43 formed with offset terminal portions 44. The structure of each card carrier 45 is substantially identical with the con- 5 struction of card carriers 25. Attaching hooks 45 project in pairs from one edge of each offset section 42. As shown in Fig. 8, for example,

hooks 46 are of special formation, each having the portion adjacent offset section 42 formed in curved relation to provide a curved section 41,

the curvature being of short radius. Hooks 46 then each have a straight section 48 extending from curved section 4'! in substantially perpendicular relation to offset section 42. Section 48 terminates in an arcuate section 49 of short radius that extends beyond the plane of the upper surface of central portion 4| of the carrier. Section 49 merges into an arcuate section 50 of long radius extending over offset sections 42 above the plane of the upper face of central portion 4|.

At the opposite end long are section 50 terminates in a portion 5| of arcuate formation formed on a short radius which in turn merges into end section 52 of the hook extending toward ,5 offset section 42 of the carrier below the plane of the upper face of central portion 4|. The end of terminal section 52 is spaced from offset section 42 a distance sufficient to provide clearance for the free insertion and removal of eyelet member 53 carried by tab 54 of record card 55.

The center of the opening in eyelet members 53 on each card 55 is arranged to lie slightly above the plane of the edge of cards 55 as shown in Fig. 7. This provides a relation between cards 55 and carriers arranged to have the edge of the card rest on central section 4| of the carrier dur ing its swinging movement from a forwardly extending position in the tray to the laid-back or rearwardly extending position while tabs 54 will project into the recess formed by offset sections 42 of the carrier with the eyelet members engaged for relatively free movement about hooks 46.

Hooks are of arcuate form in cross section as may be ascertained by an inspection of the drawings particularly Figs. '7 and 8, for example.

Fig. 8 illustrates the approximate normal position of a record card when it is in forwardly extending position in the tray, only a fragment of the card adjacent to the carrier being illustrated. The cards in the tray will lie on top of the carriers, and as a result each card will have the portions attached to a carrier in the approximate position shown in Fig. 8 in forwardly extending position.

It will be noted that projection or tab 54 lies substantially above the plane of the upper face of central section 4| of the carrier, and in this way holds eyelet member 53 in a position to approximately encircle section 5| of hook 46. In this position the card will not become detached from the carrier.

Fig. 9 illustrates the approximate position of a fragment of a card 55 showing how the portion attached to a hook 46 moves about the hook while the edge of the card seats on central section 4| of the carrier as illustrated by dotted line 56. In this position tabs 54 and eyelet members 53 ride around long arc section of hook 46.

Fig. 10 illustrates the position of a fragmentary portion of card when it is perpendicular to the tray and card carrier, a position also illustrated in Fig. '7. The edge of the card between tabs 54 rests on central section 4| of the carrier, and eyelet members 53 move freely around sections 50 of the hooks on the carrier.

Fig. 11 illustrates a fragmentary portion of card 55 in laid-back or rearwardly extending position showing how tab portions 54 and eyelet members 53 are supported above the plane of the upper surface of central section 4| of the card carrier.

It will be clear from the above description and disclosures in Figs. 7 to 11 that the cards in attached relation on their carriers have the eyelet members and tabs supported for operation substantially above the plane of the upper face of central sections 4| of the card carriers and in this way the tabs and eyelet members are prevented from becoming detached from the hooks, but at the same time provide for free swinging movement of the cards on their carriers from the forwardly extending position to a laid-back position, and vice versa.

To remove a card from its carrier with this construction it will be understood that with the card lying in the position shown in Fig. 8 tabs or projections 54 on the cards may be pressed downwardly into offset section 4?. of the carrier by manual operation to flex tabs 54 relative to the body of the card and place eyelet members 53 in alignment with the space between the end sections 52 and offset sections 42 and when so positioned the card may be removed by withdrawing the tabs through the space between the ends of the hooks and the offset sections. The operation is reversed to attach a card to a carrier.

.The resiliency of the cards having the tabs and the eyelet members for providing attachment and detachment from hooks 46, with a particular construction of the hooks with respect to the remaining portions of the carrier, and the position of the eyelet members with respect to the edge of the cards, provides for the efficient attachment and detachment of a card to a carrier, while the resiliency of the material from which the cards are made will retain the tabs adjacent the upper portion of the carrier on hooks 46 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11.

Thus, in the construction of carriers as illustrated in Figs. '7 to 11 the hooks on each carrier have a closed loop portion projecting to the opposite side of the plane of the carrier from offset sections 42 and the opening between the ends of the hooks and said offset section. In this way tabs 54 with eyelets 53 provide an attaching means on a card for normally securing it to a carrier in which the attaching means normally lies within the plane of the cards. In attaching and detaching the card from the carrier the attaching means is flexed out of its normal plane in order to pass the eyelets through the space at the ends of the hooks.

It will be noted that the back stop I3 is arranged in the tray so that a portion of back stop |3 inclines upwardly toward the rear end of the tray. This has the special advantage of compensating at the rear end of the tray for the reduction in build-up in the cards as they progress toward the cards on the last card carrier engaged with stop flange |4. By this feature of construction the cards in the rear end of the tray lie uniformly in a flat position in their visible indexed relation in the tray. Fig. 1 shows the cards extended upwardly at an inclination to their normal position in the tray, for clearness in illustrating the invention, only the cards on the first two carrier members in the tray being shown in their normal position lying on top of bottom stop l8.

When one or more card carriers are removed from the tray the others may be shifted back and forth and a number of new card carriers may be inserted at any point in the tray corresponding in number to the number previously removed. It will thus be seen that the card carriers can be shifted longitudinally in channels M for reindexing the cards or making any necessary insertions in the index such as adding new cards as well as removing old ones. In this way the index 20 can be readily kept up to date and all of the cards properly indexed in the tray, The removal and absence of any card from its card carrier in the tray is immediately signalled by the absence of its tab from the series of cards in the tray which allows a greater portion of the card below to be viewed, thereby indicating the presence of a carrier in the tray without a card mounted thereon.

What is claimed is:

1. In a visible index, a support having inwardly facing channels at opposite side edges and side walls extending above said channels, a plurality of card supporting members extending transversely in said tray in edge to edge relation with *opposite ends engaged in said channels, said 2 said channels against endwise movement and detachment therefrom, said record members being each flexible whereby the side portions may be bent and said supporting members moved endwise for disengagement from said channels.

2. In a visible index, a support having inwardly facing channels and side walls on opposite sides, card supporting members extending transversely thereof and having the ends engaged in said channels for limited endwise movement to engage and disengage said members in said channels, and a record card on each card supporting member normally operable to engage said side walls and retain said supporting members in attached relation in said support.

3. In a visible index, a support having side walls and inwardly facing channels at opposite sides, card supporting members extending transversely thereof with opposite ends engaging in said channels for limited endwise movement to engage and disengage said members in said channels, each of said members having card attaching means spaced on adjacent members uniform distances apart, and a record card mounted on each member by said card attaching means for hinging movement and normally lying in offset overlapping relation with adjacent cards with a free margin in visible index relation, each card normally having its side edges engaging with said side walls in retaining its supporting member in attached relation on said support.

4. In a visible index, a support having side walls and inwardly facing channels at opposite sides, supporting bars extending transversely thereof with opposite ends engaged in said channels, said bars having a length less than the width of said support for sufficient endwise movement in said channels for engagement and disengagement of one end at a time therein, and a card detachably mounted on each bar for hinging movement thereon formed to have the side edges engage the side walls of the support in attached relation to retain said bars engaged in both said channels against detachment, said cards being flexible whereby one side of a card may be manually flexed to provide sufficient endwise movement of the attached bar for disengaging one end of the bar from one of said channels, and each card also serving as an operating member for its bar in engaging and disengaging the bar with the support.

5. In a visible index, a support having side walls and inwardly facing channels adjacent said side walls, supporting bars extending transversely between said channels with opposite ends engaged therein for limited endwise movement to engage and disengage said bars in said channels, a record card for each bar, and means on each bar and card spaced inwardly from the ends of each bar and said side walls detachably and hingedly connecting each card to one of said bars, each card being detachable from its bar in both the attached and detached relation of said bar on said support, said cards extending between the side walls of said support in the attached relation of said bars and cards and cooperating with said side walls to limit endwise movement of said bars for retaining said bars in attached relation on said support, said cards having the portion between the means attaching said cards to said bars and one of the side walls adapted for flexing to release said bars for endwise movement and disengagement from said support.

6. In a visible index, a support having side walls and oppositely facing channels adjacent said side walls, rigid supporting bars formed of strips of uniform width having lateral side flanges and supporting hooks spaced inwardly from said side walls, said bars extending transversely of said tray with opposite ends engaged in said channels for endwise movement in engaging and disengaging said bars on said support, said bars having their side flanges abutting and being slidable longitudinally on said support, re-cordmembers for each bar having means detachably engageable with said hooks for hingedly connecting said record members to said bars, said record members having their side edges cooperating with said side walls for retaining said bars in attached relation on said support and limiting endwise movement of said bars, said record members when laterally flexed on said hooks relative to said bars providing for endwise movement of said bars forremoval and insertion in said channels.

7. In a visible index, a support having side walls and oppositely facing channels adjacent said side walls, supporting bars extending transversely of said support each formed of a strip of material of uniform width having opposite ends detachably engaged in said channels, each of said bars having projections on one edge formed intocurved prongs terminating in spaced relation to the opposite edge of said strip, and a card for mounting on each strip having attaching means for engaging on said prongs by forcing said means between said strip and the ends of said prongs in attaching and detaching said attaching means thereon, each card having free hinging movement in engaged relation on said prongs, said strips supporting the cards on said support in offset overlapping visible indexed relation, and said cards by engagement with said side Walls cooperating in attached relation on said strips when engaged in said channels to normally retain said strips in said channels against removal from said support.

8. In a visible index, a support, base members on said support having projections on an edge portion of each base member formed into curved prongs terminating in spaced relation from the opposite edge portion, a card for each base member, and means on each card for attaching it to the prongs of a base member, said means having detachable connection with said base member by insertion or removal through the space between the ends of the prongs and base member, said means being wider than said space and springing said prongs and base member apart during engagement and disengagement thereof, whereby said means is snapped into and out of engagement with said prongs.

9. A card holder for visible indexes comprising a base member formed of a strip having curved projections on one edge terminating in spaced relation from the opposite edge, cards for mounting on said projections having means wider than the space between the ends of said projections and strip for detachably connecting said cards to said projections, said means snapping on and off of said projections by forcing said means between said projections and strip to enlarge said space for passage of said means.

10. In a visible index, a support, a card supporting member detachably engaged with said support, a card hingedly attached to said supporting member, and means engaged by the side edges of said card in attached relation on said supporting member in all hinged positions thereof on said supporting member for normally retaining said supporting member against detachment from said support.

11. In a visible index, a card carrier, card supporting hooks on said carrier having the ends of said hooks spaced from said carrier, cards for mounting on said carrier, eyelets mounted in a margin of each card having a slightly larger dimension at one portion than the distance between the ends of said hooks and carrier whereby said eyelets are adapted to snap on and 01f said hooks by springing the hooks away from the carrier when inserted in the space between the ends of said hooks and carrier.

12. In a visible index, a card carrier having oiTset sections, card supporting hooks on said ofiset sections having the ends spaced from said sections and located at the same side of said carrier as said sections, said hooks having curved portions extending beyond the opposite side of said carrier, and a card having attaching means thereon detachably engaged on said hooks and normally lying in the plane of the card, said attaching means being normally retained in said curved portions of the hooks in the operation of the card on said carrier, and said means being adapted for flexing out of the plane of the card to pass through the space at the ends of said hooks during engagement and removal of the card from the carrier.

13. In a visible index, a card carrier having offset sections, card supporting hooks on said oifset sections having the ends spaced from said sections and located at the same side of said carrier as said sections, said hooks having curved portions extending beyond opposite sides of said carrier, and a card having attaching means thereon detachably engaged on said hooks and normally lying in the plane of the card, said attaching means being normally retained in said curved portions of said hooks in the operation of the card on said carrier, said card having the edge adjacent the carrier engaged with the surface of said carrier during swinging movement of the card in its attached relation with the carrier while said attaching means ride freely on said hooks, and said attaching means being adapted for flexing out of the plane of the card to pass through the space at the ends of said hooks during engagement and removal of the card from the carrier.

14. A card carrier for visible indexes having offset sections, card supporting hooks on said ofiset sections having the ends spaced from said sections and located at the same side of said carrier as said sections, and curved portions on said hooks extending beyond the opposite side of said carrier.

15. In a visible index, a support having spaced parallel side Walls and opposed channels formed at the bottom of said side walls, a card supporting member longer than the distance between said side walls but of sufficiently less dimension than the distance between the bottoms of said channels to provide for endwise movement of the card supporting member relative to said support for engaging and disengaging one end of said card supporting member at a time in said channels, and a card on said card supporting member having the side edges normally engaging said side walls for retaining both ends of the supporting member engaged in said channels, said card forming an operating means for said supporting member manually engageable and operable in engaging and disengaging said supporting member from said support.

JAMES H. RAND, JR. CARL F. WOLTERS'. 

